Uch Sharif

HISTORY AND FEW SUPERB VIEWS OF UCH SHARIF

It is worth making a small visit to Uch Sharif or (Uch Shareef), a very ancient place which still
has some beautiful mosques and tombs. Its great period of glory came in the 13th century, when it was together with multan, a center of political and cultural
activites. The architecture of the mausoleums and mosques still standing in uch
is refreshing and attractive, reflecting a central Asian influence, with
superb blue and white glazed tiles, not similar to those in multan and Bahawalpur. Sadly
many of the tombs are in poor condition.

Uch has been associated by some authorities with one of the many Alexandrias built
by Alexander on his way down the indus in 325 Bc. Arrian, the military
historian writing in 2nd century AD, records that 'Alexander ordered a city
to built at the confluence of the two rivers, imagining that by the advantage of
such a situation, it would become rich and prosperous'. The of this city sent to
Alexander 100 brave and noble men as hostages besides 500 war chariots with their
drivers and horses fully caparisoned. Alexander was so touched by this gesture that
he returned the hostages, but not the chariots.

In the 7th century Uch was part of kingdom of the barhmin ruler chach
(who may or may not have invented chess), and then fell to the Arab invader
Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 after a siege of seven days. Five centuries later came
its period of glory as a great religious centre.

The tombs are either square or domed. The tomb of Bibi Jawindi is the most
complete, octagonal in shape and with every inch decorated with faience
blue and white tiles. The later tomb of Jaial Surkh Bukhari is unusual in that
it has a superb wooden roof painted in lacquer, perdominantly red and blue.
The tomb of Baha'al Halim has horizontal stripes of blue and white faience
tiles, although little of it remains.

From Uch you can cross the confluence of the sutlej and chenab river
to Alipur and then turn north for Muzaffargarh. Here you have to find the road
to the east to cross the chenab river again to take you to Multan or you can turn
south-east and rejoin the main road to Bahawalpur.